Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 662 Departure, Shanhaiguan!

On the fifth day after the New Year, the people who had left Huangyaguan gradually returned. The strength and greatness of mankind were demonstrated at this moment. The pass, which had been badly damaged, began to recover on the very day the people returned.

The cacophony of voices drowned out the desolation of the battlefield. In just a few days, they seemed to have forgotten the brutal war. When work began, they once again threw themselves into the production and life that should have been theirs.

"Nonsense."

Xia Lin put down the report in his hand and said with a wry smile, "That bastard Tuoba Jing actually spent three or four million taels to invite the entire city of Handan to celebrate the New Year. How can this be allowed?"

Xiao Chenzi, standing beside him, had gotten used to the person in front of him adding the words "Diao Mao" before the emperor's name, and even felt that "Diao Mao" should be paired with "Tuoba Jing" for it to sound right.

"Why not? Isn't this a good thing—winning people's hearts and minds?"

Xia Lin lay on the arrow sack, staring blankly ahead. His fox fur cloak billowed behind him in the northeast wind. Seeing that he didn't speak, Xiao Chenzi continued to ask, "Am I wrong? Isn't this an excellent imperial technique?"

"Shortsighted." Xia Lin turned to look at Xiao Chenzi and said, "Can this quickly win people's hearts? Yes, of course it can. But it will sow the seeds of a huge hidden danger for the future."

"What's the hidden danger?"

“Providing for lazybones.” Xia Lin raised his head. “You’re a local warlord. You feel you’re spending more than you earn these days, so you secretly incite the local people to riot. You pretend you can’t suppress them, report to the court, and the court sends troops to suppress them. Then, won’t you invite the local people to celebrate a festival? Whatever it is, Qingming, Winter Solstice, or Cold Food Festival, at least you have a name. If this happens a lot, won’t it become like the squeaky wheel gets the grease? I ask you, how will you deal with that? And another point is, can you guarantee that you can control every single one of these ups and downs? If you lose control once, it will snowball and get worse and worse. How will you handle that then? Ten taels of silver per person isn’t enough; they want a hundred taels of silver per person. How will you deal with that then? And after this trend becomes widespread, something terrifying will happen.”

"Eating offspring whose children have died without working..." Xiao Chenzi blurted out, "Or deliberately creating the situation of children dying without working..."

“So he’s just being ridiculous.” Xia Lin shook his head and said, “He’s just being clever for his own good. But what can we do? He’s the emperor, and you have to look on the bright side. At least this is better than massacring the city.”

"Hahaha... You're so good at comforting yourself."

Xia Lin spread his hands and said helplessly, "It's rare for someone as petty as him to be generous like this. Let him have his way. One day he'll realize that simply giving someone gifts won't solve anything."

"Then how can we solve this problem?"

“Expectation, faith, and hope.” Xia Lin pursed his lips. “Let’s not talk about that anymore. It’s too far away. Right now, we can only treat it as a goal to pursue. We won’t see it in this lifetime. Alright, I’m going back to pack up and prepare to head to Shanhaiguan. You also need to get started on the bandit suppression.”

"What if they resist to the death? You must know that's the most difficult pass in the world."

"They have no choice."

Xia Lin got up, patted Xiao Chenzi on the shoulder, and then walked out. The training regiment was already waiting for him outside.

The moment he appeared, all the soldiers stood at attention in unison, and the sound of their synchronized stomping feet made the ground tremble.

The surrounding people had never seen such a scene before, so they rushed forward to watch the spectacle. What they saw was the most valiant army in the world. Although there weren't many of them, the sheer strength and masculine aura they exuded was enough to melt the snow.

Xia Lin stepped forward, nimbly mounted his horse, and turned the reins: "Let's go."

With a soft whisper, the entire training regiment once again mounted their horses in perfect unison, their posture exuding an indescribable murderous aura.

At that moment, the sound of firecrackers rang out at the city gate. Xia Lin led his men to withdraw from Huangya Pass. Before leaving, he looked back at Xiao Chenzi, then urged the reins on, turning the cavalry's hooves into rolling thunder as they sped away into the distance.

The person in charge of Shanhaiguan at this time is no longer Li Jing's son, but his son-in-law. Li Jing's son died a few years ago and passed away two years ago. Now all the power in Shanhaiguan is in the hands of an outsider, and this guy surnamed Pei is the uncle of the first aristocratic scion Xia Lin killed.

The journey to Shanhaiguan would take three days. On the first night, after the army set up camp, Xia Lin sat in his tent looking at the budget sheet submitted by his subordinates. Gongsun Hongyuan, disguised as a personal guard and left in the camp, sat opposite him, resting her chin on her hand and watching Xia Lin work with a furrowed brow.

"You used to be so playful, you weren't this serious. You're not as fun as before."

"What strange things are you saying now, my little wife?" Xia Lin didn't look up, but simply circled the questionable accounts with a red pen: "People grow up, you know. I was only in my twenties back then, and I'm thirty this year."

"By the way, aren't you afraid that people will find out I'm the princess of the King of Lingnan when you take me out this time?"

"So many years have passed." Xia Lin still didn't look up. "Who would recognize you now?"

Hongyuan didn't laugh this time, but sighed softly and said, "I was only fifteen or sixteen that year."

"He's only in his early twenties this year, still very young."

After a while, Xia Lin finished his work, put the things aside, and let out a long sigh, saying, "I just don't know if you've matured a bit over the years."

"It's alright, but I'm much better now." Hong Yuan raised her chin: "Next time you call Luo Shixin, I definitely won't defeat him so easily."

“He’ll blow your head off.” Xia Lin laughed, then sat up straight. “By the way, little wife.”

"Hmm? What?"

"Would you like me to introduce you to a promising young man? Just name your name, and as long as you don't ask for anything like becoming an empress, I can basically fulfill your desires."

"No way." Hong Yuan leaned closer to Xia Lin: "You'd really want to?"

Xia Lin was stunned. He looked down at the woman and was even a little dazed for a moment. Where did she learn these skills?
Oh my god!!! Xiao Chenzi's wife!

Although the girl introduced to Xiao Chenzi was a very high-class girl, a courtesan who hadn't been paid yet, a courtesan is still a courtesan, and ultimately someone from that place.

Over the years in this remote place, she probably only got along well with Hong Yuan, and over time, she naturally learned these tricks.

As for whether that courtesan is powerful or not, if she wasn't powerful, how could Xiao Chenzi have had three children with her? You know, Xiao Chenzi is a man who is not wrong in terms of morality, but he is extremely wicked in terms of trivial matters. He is lustful and greedy. The fact that he has been able to focus on one person for so many years shows how capable that courtesan is.

When Hong Yuan unleashes these abilities, it becomes a deadly weapon. She is young and beautiful, and her physique, honed through years of martial arts training, is naturally exceptional. She is also tall, nearly 1.7 meters, so her strikes are quite lethal.

But Daosheng was not a beast after all; after all, Hongyuan had to call him uncle according to their seniority...

"What do you mean by 'reluctant'?" Xia Lin ruffled her hair. "You have to call me uncle, you know?"

"But Aunt isn't here either. There are no secrets that stay hidden forever. There's a woman hidden in Uncle's army, and she's even traveling with the army and serving him closely. Even if Uncle had nine mouths, he couldn't explain it away."

Xia Lin laughed: "It's okay, I mean it, whether I say no or not." "This is boring, I'm going to wash up."

Hong Yuan left dejectedly, while Xia Lin shook his head and smiled gently before washing up and resting.

An hour later, a person sneaked into the central command tent, and the guards on duty at the door immediately spotted the newcomer.

"who!?"

At this moment, Hongyuan took off her hat and made a shushing gesture: "It's me."

The two guards suddenly realized what was happening and quietly sheathed their drawn swords. They casually glanced at the undulating foothills in the distance, and one of them remarked, "I wonder if there are any wild boars in these mountains. When I was a kid, my father often took me hunting wild boars in the mountains."

"Who can argue with that? The wild boar is salted, dried, and then cooked in oil—it's so delicious, your mouth is filled with the aroma of meat..."

Meanwhile, Hong Yuan had already entered the main tent. Xia Lin was fast asleep and did not notice anything unusual around him. Firstly, many years had passed and he had lost the alertness and instincts he had accumulated back then. Secondly, he had been very tired these days, so he had gotten used to falling asleep as soon as he was in a safe environment.

Seeing him sleeping soundly, Hongyuan made a very mischievous face, while her mind was filled with the things that Sister Fengchun had told her before they parted.

Although I'm still a little shy now that the moment has come, there's nothing more to say now that things have come to this point. Let's give it a try!

Then, Hong Yuan gritted her teeth and started taking off her clothes, first her outer clothes and trousers, then her leather jacket and trousers, then her sweater and thermal underwear, and finally her thermal underwear...

When there were only three floors left, Xia Lin was awakened by the moaning sounds coming from the neckline of her hair as she took off her clothes...

Xia Lin sat up and watched her performance, expressionless, just as calm and collected as Secretary Dakang when he closed the car window.

When she finally managed to pull off the tight clothes, the feeling of relief made her exhale and even let out a soft "ouch" while putting her hands on her hips.

"Hey, eh, eh."

Xia Lin suddenly shouted, which startled Hong Yuan. After her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she saw Xia Lin sitting there looking at her, she didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Let me tell you, if you can't learn to be charming and alluring, don't force yourself. What kind of place is this? If you try this, you'll get pneumonia tomorrow."

Hongyuan stood there silently, shivering from the cold.

Xia Lin was both amused and annoyed by her nonchalant attitude: "Are you going to put on your clothes and go back to sleep or what?"

"I'm not going! I'd rather freeze to death than be so embarrassed."

Well, Xia Lin thought she would have matured over the years, but in the end, she found that she was still as stupid and stubborn as ever.

Xia Lin knew her personality well; in her current state, she would really freeze to death outside.

"Oh dear..." Xia Lin moved to the side, "Come over here first."

Hongyuan puffed out her cheeks and walked over angrily, then crawled into Xia Lin's sleeping bag, and then even turned around angrily...

"Was it my eldest son's wife who taught you that? I'm telling you, don't learn these things. Her methods aren't suitable for you."

"Then what suits me best?"

"How would I know?"

Although there was a stove inside the tent, the temperature was only slightly higher than outside. It was estimated to be around minus twenty degrees Celsius outside, while inside it was at most minus one or two degrees Celsius. Xia Lin couldn't stand being outside any longer, so he simply stuffed himself back into his sleeping bag.

A sleeping bag meant for one person is now being squeezed between two people, so the space is naturally very limited, making it impossible to avoid touching each other.

"Go to sleep!" Xia Lin muttered. "We still have to march tomorrow."

He had great willpower, but the problem was that he could sleep, while Hong Yuan couldn't. When she couldn't sleep, she would toss and turn, and since the space was small, she was always restless...

"Stop bothering me." Xia Lin pushed Hong Yuan's hand away for the third time: "We have to march tomorrow, how come you're still so lazy after all these years?"

"People say that a newlywed wife is called the bride, but you keep calling her 'little wife,' does that mean you're an old married couple? What's wrong? Now that she's right in front of you, you don't dare to do it? I heard from Sister Fengchun that you don't have any children, is that why you're not good enough?"

"Fuck you!"

What happened next is self-explanatory. It would be a disservice to the title of Luoshui Gun King if he didn't make her meow. However, it must be said that people who exercise regularly have better physical fitness than ordinary people.

Of course, the march on the second day still had to proceed as normal. Xia Lin fell asleep on horseback several times, which made the adjutant next to him come up with a worried look and ask, "General, if you feel unwell, you can take a break. It has indeed been quite cold these past few days. The difference between the north and south is too great, and many soldiers say that this place is too cold."

Xia Lin waved his hand: "Let's set up camp and rest in the valley ahead. This place is located in a narrow pass, and if there is a strong wind, we may not be able to avoid it."

"Order!"

At that very moment, inside Shanhaiguan, Li Jing's son-in-law Pei Jun was sitting in his mansion, surrounded by an eerie silence from his retainers and advisors.

They had refused Huangyaguan's request for help three times before, not wanting to get involved in that karma. However, karma has still come after them. They heard that Xia Lin led his men straight to Shanhaiguan.

"They probably won't attack the pass, after all, it's their own pass." An advisor leaned forward, looking somewhat nervous.

"Then what are they doing here? Winter fishing?" Pei Jun laughed. "Back then, you were the ones who strongly advised against sending troops to Huangya. What about now? Hmm?"

"General... you should talk to him properly and buy some time. I heard that Xia Lin is still under investigation, yet he has rashly left the capital, which is disobeying the imperial decree. I think General Pei should look for him. He killed a member of your Pei family back then."

Pei Jun lowered his eyelids and pondered for a moment: "Let's try it this way first. Don't fight them head-on. Go write a letter home and ask them to impeach us in court."

(End of this chapter)